Connect with Us

About Covered California

Covered California is the state’s marketplace for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Covered California, in partnership with the California Department of Health Care Services, was charged with creating a new health insurance marketplace in which individuals and small businesses can get access to affordable health insurance plans. With coverage starting in 2014, Covered California helps individuals determine whether they are eligible for premium assistance that is available on a sliding-scale basis to reduce insurance costs or whether they are eligible for low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Small businesses can purchase competitively priced health insurance plans and offer their employees the ability to choose from an array of plans and may qualify for federal tax credits. Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the new market work for California’s consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the Governor and the Legislature. For more information on Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com

The primary targets of Covered California’s outreach and education efforts are to reach the estimated 5.3 million Californians projected to be uninsured or eligible for tax credit subsidies in 2014. Later this fall, Covered California will offer the state’s residents access to health care through marketplaces established through the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Coverage will be available Jan. 1, 2014.

Center for Reducing Health Disparities Role with Covered California

The Center for Reducing Health Disparities was selected as an outreach partner because of its expertise in educating diverse underserved groups about health care. With its partner El Concilio, it will reach out to Latinos eligible for affordable health insurance programs through Covered California. The Center for Reducing Health Disparities efforts will focus on Latinos who live in counties in the Central Valley (Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado, Placer, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno and Kern).

The Centers for Reducing Health Disparities’ Community Outreach and Education Specialist will explain health-care terminology such as co-payments, premiums and how to select the health-care plan that is best fit. They will use a variety of community-engagement tools such as visiting schools, churches, community centers, and colleges. The Community Outreach and Education Specialist will reach out through social media, booths at flea markets and health fairs.

The project manager will be Lina Méndez, a post-doctoral scholar with the Center for Reducing Health Disparities, who will ensure that information delivered to the targeted populations is culturally and linguistically appropriate